Friday, February 23, 2024

Emperor Naruhito's Birthday

Today is a national holiday in Japan, celebrating the birthday of the Emperor. The date of this holiday changes to reflect the birthday of the current Emperor.




Naruhito was born February 23, 1960, the eldest son of Akihito, then the crown prince, and his wife, Michiko, and grandson of the then Emperor Hirohito.  


Naruhito was raised in the imperial palace in Tokyo and attended Gakushuin University, graduating in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in history. He spent two years studying at Merton College in Oxford, England. Naruhito met his future bride, Owada Masako, in 1986. The two were married in June 1993 and their only child, Princess Aiko, was born in 2001. Naruhito became the emperor on May 1, 2019, at the abdication of his father. 


I wish him a very happy birthday celebration.

3 comments:

Jeanie said...

You guys have TONS of holidays! That's very cool.

Leonore Winterer said...

Happy birthday, Emperor Naruhito!
I hope you never get an Emperor with a birthday of February 29th, though.

Toki said...

His Majesty the Emperor is an honorable man, but he is also a friendly person with a good sense of humor.